Wednesday, June 29, 2016

I was so stunned to have suddenly discovered an inspirational book called The Magic Story after decades of reading countless classic self-help books. It was written by Frederick Van Rensselaer Dey in 1899 and it seemed to come out of nowhere! It’s as if I slipped into a parallel universe where it has existed all this time. A friend recommended it to me and it filled me with wonder, enthusiasm, hope, confidence and indestructible optimism! It’s a very short book and I highly recommend it without you knowing any more about it.

One aspect of the story I can share is it explores the profound idea that two possible realities (positive and negative) exists and that we get to choose which one we want. It’s concepts like this that I love in movies exploring parallel or alternate universes. Films about time travel and changing the future and present by changing the past and present has always activated my imagination and expanded my problem solving abilities.

If you enjoyed the time travel aspects of the superhero film X-Men: Days Of Future Past then I highly recommend seeing the alternate version called “The Rogue Cut”. It adds 17 minutes of new footage while re-imagining certain scenes. The great irony is that for a movie about altering the past this new footage actually alters the story about altering a story! Get it?

X-Men: Days Of Future Past: The Rogue Cut (2015)

The superhero film, X-Men: Days Of Future Past: The Rogue Cut, is the seventh installment of the X-Men film series and acts as a sequel to both 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand and 2011's X-Men: First Class. The story is about the X-Men from the future sending Wolverine/Logan (Hugh Jackman) back in time into his younger self to alter events that cause their extermination. This visually stunning film is filled with fantastic action sequences and thought provoking lessons about how a person’s actions in a single moment has benefits or consequences. See: movie trailer

This version is called The Rogue Cut because of the X-Men member named Roque (Anna Paquin) who has the power to absorb and utilize other mutant powers. Her new scenes sets off some different outcomes and explains certain aspects of the absorbing powers of the future villains called The Sentinels not explained in the theatrical version.

The dynamics of this alternate cut is similar to watching the film, Back to the Future 2 where you see Marty McFly witness himself and events that unfolded in the first Back to the Future movie. Or it’s like seeing the fifth Terminator installment, Terminator Genisys, where events of the first film have been altered and we get to see the original young Terminator (Arnold Schwarzenegger) battle his older self. It can really twist and delight the brain thinking about it!

Time travel and alternate universe concepts can be confusing and yet they can help expand your sense of perspective and problem solving abilities. They can help to activate your imagination and see challenges and problems from new angles. The can also help you see the magic of transforming your story into a successful one!

There are always positive endings and solutions to adversities and tasks that may seem impossible to accomplish. You first have to choose to believe in the reality you want and envision a positive alternative. And watch films that help expand new thoughts and ideas. Movies have the power to help you manifest the future outcomes you desire!

Sunday, June 26, 2016

I wish I could convey the fantastic feeling I get whenever I’m on stage and I see eyes light up when I share something inspiring or motivational. It’s a surge of positive emotional energy that flows almost like a shot of caffeine! This happened at a recent keynote presentation I gave for CAWEE, Canadian Association of Women Executives and Entrepreneurs.

The topic I spoke on was “Top Inspiring Women in the Movies” and focused on three films, Erin Brockovich, Julie & Julia and Joy to discuss their inspiring themes of confidence, passion, resilience, leadership, team spirit and indestructible optimism. Afterwards I had some heartfelt talks with audience members who thanked me for sharing stories of my experience with clinical depression and how movies helped me cope. They said it helped them to better understand the loved ones in their lives, especially men, dealing with mental illness.

"The audience was so connected and moved that you could have heard a pin drop when Emmanuel Lopez shared how movies inspire. I recommend Emmanuel as a gifted and honest speaker to any group who would benefit from his unique perspective and candid life lessons."
Laural Carr, Creative Director, ImaginationCAWEE, Event Coordinator

“Emmanuel’s words struck a chord for us because he was able to describe so clearly how he had successfully transformed his passions into life lessons. His ideas offer support for those who need encouragement to put joy back into their lives.”
Georgina Patko, Resource DevelopmentProgress Place, Recovery Centre for Mental Illness

"Hearing how Emmanuel Lopez used films truly rejuvenated my love of movies. It's always been a source of therapy for me but he’s further reframed this for me! Having had my own black out and paralysis episodes during my burnout, his message and story truly hit home."
Crystal-Marie Sealy, President & Founder
Successiory

Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg & Movies

Healing from difficult times and depression can begin when personal stories touch someone’s heart whether they are about successes or challenges that were experienced. That’s why movies can be so empowering and therapeutic. Dr. Margaret Wehrenberg, author of The 10 Best-Ever Depression Management Techniques, wrote a wonderful article for Psychology Today called Lighten Up Your Depression With a Movie. In it she echoes the same powerful results I’ve experienced with films in difficult times. See: article

Among the many insights she shares Dr. Wehrenberg says that some movies… “can make you feel the despair but also give you a vision you desperately need of how determination in a person of good character can emerge strong from loss and tragedy. They can show how love in its many forms can persist and strengthen you.”

Erin Brockovich (2000)

The biographical film, Erin Brockovich, is about the true story of single mother, Erin Brockovich (Julia Roberts), and her battle against an energy corporation causing harm to the health of neighborhood citizens. Great performances include Albert Finney as Edward L. Masry and Roberts who won many Best Actress awards including the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award. This is a fantastic, engaging story overflowing with inspiring work and life lessons. See: movie trailer

This film gets better and better every time I see it! Erin demonstrates many leadership qualities that only emerged when faced with adversities and identifying a passionate goal to help a community while making a corporation accountable for unethical, illegal practices. Her inner strengths of resilience, tenacity, resourcefulness and indestructible optimism is inspiring to witness. At the same time Erin exhibited people skills that could be very compassionate but also abrasive and combative. Those latter points would come in handy in memorable, inspiring meetings with opposing counsel!

One of her special skills that astounded the lawyers was Erin's ability to remember phone numbers and details of all her 634 plaintiffs. I discovered that in real-life she developed this skill because she suffered from dyslexia and in order to cope she had learned mostly everything in her life through memorization.

When I discovered this fact I was further inspired by the film as well as the real-life Erin Brockovich! She truly demonstrated an optimistic mindset with her disorder and can be a shining example for others to successfully persevere and adapt to challenges. You can read more about this and other true or false points from the film here:
History vs. Hollywood: Movies Based on True Stories

Stories of struggle and success in the movies can help motivate you to persevere in your own challenges at work or in life. And films that are based on true stories can add that extra dose of inspiration that overwhelming problems can be faced and solved. Amplify your own inner strengths, hope and drive with a powerful, uplifting movie today!

Wednesday, June 22, 2016

I recently did one of my regular long distance walks for exercise and for mental health, this time it was 10 km (6.2 miles) that took three hours. These lengths can become meditative and I was able to think about the positives in my life like the fantastic experience I had being the keynote speaker for CAWEE, Canadian Association of Women Executives & Entrepreneurs. I thought about the wonderful women I met who resonated with my talk and were with organizations that could benefit from my movie and wellness experience (more details of the event in an upcoming blog).

The day I did this long walk was a very hot Saturday and my Weather Network app was showing a heat alert warning. The heat made the final ½ hour a challenge as I was feeling exhausted and legs were aching. But I started to think about movie characters from The Way Back or Lawrence of Arabia who had to walk long distances and that gave me the mental tonic to focus and persevere. I also just saw the extended edition of The Martian the night before and that also motivated me to complete my walk successfully!

My recent 10 km walk was made easier with these amazing sandals by B.U.M. Equipment! They helped get me through so hot day!

The Martian (2015) Extended Edition

The science fiction film, The Martian, is about astronaut Mark Watney (Matt Damon) being left for dead by his crew on the planet Mars and how he survives alone. This visually stunning and engaging story of survival is inspiring in many ways especially since much of the science is real was consulted by NASA. See: movie trailer

Watney is an excellent example for demonstrating indestructible optimism with a sense of humour and a resourceful mindset. With his positive attitude he is able to find a way to communicate with earth, make water and grow food like potatoes. He also perseveres knowing he has target dates and a location for his rescue. The extended edition shows an extra 10 minutes of interesting footage like showing Watney completing the tasks of his fellow astronauts and how he lived while traveling across Mars.

I highly recommend this film as an empowering resilience resource as it shows how inner strength can be utilized when faced with seemingly impossible odds. For me the film is also a mental tonic for dealing with long distance tasks and goals. I did what I had to do for completing my 10 km walk which meant resting when I needed to, hydrating, and most of all, enjoying the journey as best as I could!

Be motivated by your favourite movie heroes when you are facing exhaustion in your long-term tasks and goals. Let them re-energize your drive and focus to persevere. Be inspired to be resourceful and tap into your knowledge and skills to move forward. And remember to visualize your end destination. Imagine yourself smiling and achieving your goal!

Sunday, June 19, 2016

Happy Father’s Day! I am missing you so much here. I think about you every day and wish I could hear the loving sound of your voice again. Thanks so much for all the magical shiny dimes I find that let me know you are watching over me. They always remind me that your spirit is alive and well and that one day I’ll see you again!

I know I shouldn’t have any regrets but I still wished I could have said goodbye before you had to leave for heaven. Thankfully I always feel I get to do this whenever I watch the ending of the movie Meet Joe Black. And I’ll always remember how much we both cried during the goodbye scenes in the film Deep Impact.

Thanks to your love of movies I feel forever connected to you through my own passion for films that has become part of my career. Thank you for showing me what unconditional love looks like. Most of all thank you for being the best father a son could ever have!

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

I have an iPhone app called Happynote and each day I add 3 things I am happy and grateful for. It always reminds me of the beauty and good in my life like my neighborhood I’ve grown to love over the past few years I’ve been here. There is a wonderful community of Italian, Filipino, Jamaican, Ukrainian people and more living peacefully side by side.

That’s why it was shocking to hear about the mass shootings in a gay nightclub in Orlando Florida recently. When these senseless tragedies against fellow human beings occur it feels like a rip into the fabric of our global community. Synchronistically, that same night and hours before the shootings, I was compelled to see the film Selma for the first time. There were difficult scenes to watch and yet it mirrored the violence that I would soon learn about in Orlando the next morning via the media.

Selma (2014)

The historical drama, Selma, is a about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (David Oyelow) and his campaign to secure equal voting rights via a march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965. This film is, at times, a meditative chronicle of real-life events that then explodes into shocking and haunting acts of violence. It also shows the incredible resilience, tenacity and leadership of King’s vision and dream for equality. See: movie trailer

The scenes of racial hate and violence were painful to watch and yet the scenes of King’s speeches were uplifting. Also inspiring to see were the epic shots of hundreds of people, both black and white, coming together in common support of equal rights. It was emotional and breathtaking to see them marching peacefully arm in arm.

And this happened because the media was able to capture the atrocities that occurred on the Edmund Pettus Bridge. People and politicians across the country were able to witness crimes against humanity and then take action. They were inspired to become part of an important community for change.

Throughout history a stronger sense of community always grows out of its painful periods. People help one another overcome unexpected crisis and find strength in each other. Find movies that remind you about the power of community to inspire you through difficult times. And if you are currently part of a loving, caring community then I hope you feel overflowing gratitude for this gift!

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About Me

Emmanuel Lopez aka Motivatorman is a Motivational Speaker and an award-winning Blogger & Illustrator working with organizations to inspire RESILIENCE & INDESTRUCTIBLE OPTIMISM for DEPRESSION, MENTAL HEALTH & WELLNESS through the power of movies. He has been featured in The NEW YORK TIMES, The WASHINGTON POST and The GLOBE & MAIL.
Speaker Clients: TD Canada Trust, Investors Group, The Art Institute of Boston and Royal Ontario Museum.
For info on speaker bookings see: www.motivatorman.com